fluff (with some miscommunication)
dad!bradley barcola x mom!female reader
plot summary: in which yours and bradley’s respective son’s are the best of friends meaning u spend a lot of time together but a misunderstanding sparked by your ex leads bradley to believe he’s missed his chance with you.
bradley had always looked forwards to friday, not because they marked the end of the school week, but because they meant standing in the playground with you while your son’s disappeared to the football pitch. it had quickly become a routine, he would buy you a coffee and you would sit on a bench, engaging in easy conversation, watching on as the boys mucked about. it was the highlight of his week, it made him feel a way that football never could.
this friday, though, you never came, and when the classroom doors opened and swarms of children walked out, he watched your son walk out alone, looking around the playground slightly lost once he realised you weren’t stood in your usual spot next to bradley. this was before a man that bradley had never seen before called out his name.
“dad?!” your son spoke, more surprise in his voice than excitement as the man hugged him briefly before glancing over at bradley.
bradley, smiled politely as he introduced himself properly.
“i’m his dad.” the man nodded in your son’s direction who was now on the climbing frame with his own son.
the conversation went on from there, starting innocently enough, as the man explained how you were stuck at work and had asked him to collect your son. bradley nodded, relieved everything was okay as the man looked over at the boys now kicking about he football.
“they are,” bradley agreed.
“i suppose they’ll have to get used to seeing each other less outside of school.”
“what do you mean?” bradley’s brows furrowed.
“y/n and i are giving things another go,” he shrugged continuing, “it just feels right, for our boy.”
bradley felt his stomach drop as he forced a smile.
“we’re keeping things quiet for now. so i think it’d be best if things between you two just stayed friendly, we don’t want our son getting attached or anything.” the man’s eyes flickered towards bradley causing him to swallow slightly.
“there never was anything.” he spoke through gritted teeth.
“good.” he smiled coldly, “i’d hate for anyone to get the wrong idea and think my woman is someone else’s.”
the following friday you made it back to the playground, smiling the second you saw bradley.
“hi! sorry i missed last week, work had me stay behind.” you explained.
“don’t worry about it.” he smiled back, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
something felt off, you chatted for barely a minute as he gave back limited responses, avoiding your eyes before he glanced down at his watch.
“we should probably get going.”
“so soon?” you asked, confused, it’d been barely five minutes, and you usually let the boys play for at least an hour whilst you chatted.
“yeah.” he said flatly as he called his son over, and as they walked away, much earlier than usual, your own son frowned.
“why doesn’t he stay and play anymore?” he asked you confused, in reference to bradley’s kid, as you watched them walk off, wondering the same thing.
another two weeks passed before you caught bradley alone while the boy’s ran off together.
“you’ve been avoiding me.” you pointed out watching his shoulders tense.
he sighed before speaking.
“i just think it’s for the best if we keep some distance.”
“why…?” you stared at him as he hesitated before quietly continuing.
“i know you’re back together with his dad.”
“the day he picked your son up.”
“oh my god.” you put your face in your hands as realisation hit you immediately whilst bradley frowned at your reaction.
“no, i know what he said, but we are not back together.” you interrupted, shaking your head. “he isn’t involved bradley, he turns up when it suits him and then disappears again, it’s exhausting truly.”
“so,” bradley just stared at you, “so there is no relationship to respect?”
silence settled between you until bradley let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.
“i’ve spent three weeks convincing myself i need to move on.”
“that’s the reason you’ve been avoiding me?” you questioned.
“i liked you.” he looked down, the words coming out so quietly you almost missed them,
“i thought i was doing the right thing.” he continued.
“you really believed him? you heart softened.
“i didn’t think he’d lie about something like that.”
“he lies about a lot of things.” you smiled sadly.
before bradley could answer you, two small yet familiar little voices interrupted them.
your boys can running back over, a genius plan divided between the two of them,
“can we have a sleepover tomorrow?” they asked, puppy dog eyes pleading,
bradley looked at you and for the first time in weeks, you smiled at each other without an ounce of uncertainty.
“i think,” you started, “that that’s a wonderful idea.”
bradley couldn’t hold back the grin on his face as he looked at the two boys, then back at you.
“yeah, i think it is too.”
